Posted on 06/12/2011 9:31:27 AM PDT by New Jersey Realist
As a subscriber to Newsmax I receive weekly emails from them on various topics. I found the following item concerning lightbulbs interesting enough to share:
Light Bulb Repeal Bill Stalls in Congress
"A bill to repeal the banning of ordinary incandescent light bulbs is bottled up in a congressional committee despite Americans’ apparent distaste for the more expensive bulbs that would replace them.
The 100-watt incandescent bulb is scheduled to be outlawed in January 2012, the 75-watt bulb will disappear in January 2013, and the 60-watt and 40-watt bulbs in January 2014.
The bill banning the bulbs — which use more energy than newer bulbs — was introduced in 2007 by then Rep. Jane Harman, a California Democrat, and Rep. Fred Upton, a Michigan Republican, and signed by President George W. Bush in December 2007.
Upton is now chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and while lobbying Republicans for the post he vowed to repeal the section of the 2007 bill that bans incandescent bulbs.
“We have heard the grass roots loud and clear, and will have a hearing early next Congress,” he said in December. “The last thing we wanted to do was infringe upon personal liberties, and this has been a good lesson that Congress does not always know best.”
In January, Texas Republican Rep. Joe Barton proposed the Better Use of Light Bulb (BULB) act, which would cancel the phase-out of incandescent bulbs. The bill has 62 co-sponsors, 61 of them Republicans, and a companion bill in the Senate has 28 co-sponsors.
But Upton’s committee has not yet held a hearing on the bill, and “House Republican leadership has evinced no interest in bringing the Barton bill to the floor,” Diana Furchtgott-Roth, an adjunct fellow at the Manhattan Institute, writes in RealClearMarkets. “Calls to repeal the incandescent light bulb ban are coming from consumers, who prefer incandescent lamps." “Chairman Upton,” she adds, “how about voting Mr. Barton’s bill out of committee and sending it to the House floor?”
Once incandescent bulbs vanish, Americans will have to purchase either compact fluorescent bulbs — known as CFLs — halogens, or light-emitting diodes (LEDs).
All three cost significantly more than incandescent bulbs, although they last longer. Many people don’t like the light cast by CFLs — the cheapest of the three — and they must be disposed of at special recycling centers because they contain mercury. They also pose a danger if broken in the home.
Another factor to consider: Incandescent bulbs are made in the United States, while almost all CFLs are made in China, according to Furchtgott-Roth. She concludes: “Consumers should be free, in my opinion, to choose the light bulbs they prefer. If Congress believes that consumers should conserve energy, it can impose a tax on the model bulbs whose use it would discourage or on electricity in general.""
This is a Great example of just how poor our current Republican Leadership is.
It appears the main job of a Republican in Congress is to “reach across the aisle to our good friends” and “compromise”.
Upton is and has always been a lying, super RINO. And Boehner is not a hell of a lot better.
Upton co-sponsored the original bill banning incandescent bulbs.
A lot of us said that it would be a travesty if he was made chair of this committee.
But it was his turn, and the RINOs prevailed.
He promised that he would change his ways when he ran for election. But since when can you believe a promise from a corrupt crook like Upton, or from Boehner, the guy who saw to his appointment?
No doubt they both got paid off by GE, which is making compact flourescents in China.
The last major Incandescent factory in the US closed in Sept. 2010.
As usual with our gubment. Too little, too late. I have stocked up on a lifetime of icandescent bulbs and will no longer purches the toxic, short lasting, and expensive mercury bulbs.
Welcome, comrade, to the United Socialist States of America (Obama's USSA). Greeting from the People's Democratic Republic of Maryland.
Makes you gag, right?
If the will of the people were being heeded that repeal should have sailed through Congress with virtually no opposition. Obama will still likely veto the bill even if it does pass.
“House Republican leadership has evinced no interest in bringing the Barton bill to the floor”
Solution: New House Republican Leadership.
“Incandescent bulbs are made in the United States, while almost all CFLs are made in China”
“Sure do love them CHICOMS” said the Ruling Elite.
“Obama will still likely veto the bill even if it does pass.”
Fine. Do it. Another great ad for 2012.
“House Republican leadership has evinced no interest in bringing the Barton bill to the floor”
Solution: New House Republican Leadership.”
Exactly,we have NO leadership at this extremely critical point in time.
...despite Americans' apparent distaste for the more expensive bulbs that would replace them...Wait until Americans get that distaste in their mouths for the more expensive taxes and health care.
(From his website)...(From his website)...(From his website)
I believe it is important to listen to those I have been elected to represent, which is why I personally read and sign all of my legislative mail. Due to the large volume of correspondence received every day, >>>I only respond to residents of Michigan’s Sixth Congressional District.<<< To ensure your message receives a timely response, please be sure include all of your contact information, even if you would prefer to receive a response via e-mail.
If your message is of an urgent, personal nature, please call one of my offices directly. If you require assistance with a government department or agency, please contact either my Kalamazoo (269-385-0039) or St. Joseph/Benton Harbor (269-982-1986) office.
To schedule a meeting, arrange for a tour, purchase a flown U.S. flag, or apply for a D.C. internship, please contact my Washington office (202) 225-3761. Local internships and non-flown U.S. flags are also available in both District offices.
Due to security screening, mail addressed to my Washington office will experience a delay. Therefore, if you are sending mail to the Washington office, you may wish to consider faxing your correspondence to (202) 225-4986. If you prefer, you may mail your correspondence to either District office and your mail will be forwarded to Washington.
OFFICE CONTACT INFORMATION
Kalamazoo District Office
157 South Kalamazoo Mall
Suite 180
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
Phone: (269) 385-0039
Fax: (269) 385-2888
Benton Harbor/St. Joseph District Office
800 Centre, Suite 106
800 Ship Street
St. Joseph, MI 49085
Phone: (269) 982-1986
Fax: (269) 982-0237
Washington, D.C. Office
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Phone: (202) 225-3761
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****************************
Apparently Fred only reads email from his own district, despite being on the Energy committee.
He has a little zip code filter on his web site.
If you go here... https://upton.house.gov/Contact/default.aspx
or try here...https://upton.house.gov/Contact/ContactForm.htm
You can use one of these zip codes from his 6th district.
49097 ....................................6
49098 ....................................6
49099 ....................................6
49101 ....................................6
49102 ....................................6
49103 ....................................6
49106 ....................................6
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49010 ..................................2,6
49011 ..................................6,7
49012 ....................................6
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49014 ..................................6,7
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49017 ..................................3,7
49021 ..................................3,7
49022 ....................................6
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49028 ....................................7
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49030 ..................................6,7
49031 ....................................6
49032 ....................................6
49033 ....................................7
49034 ..................................6,7
49036 ....................................7
49038 ....................................6
49040 ..................................6,7
49042 ....................................6
49043 ....................................6
49045 ....................................6
49051 ..................................6,7
49052 ..................................6,7
49053 ....................................6
49055 ....................................6
49056 ....................................6
49057 ....................................6
49058 ....................................3
49060 ..................................3,6
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49073 ..................................3,7
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49080 ..................................3,6
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49085 ....................................6
49087 ....................................6
49088 ....................................6
Then tell him to start doing his job on the E-N-E-R-G-Y committee.
CFL's made in USA are around.
Free the light bulb!
Up to no good
YES !!! Sheesh. It it really that hard for these maroons to figure out ??
This bill and many others like it should go through the congress freaking weekly. Then, just start making the list for the commercials.
Win The Future !
The old bulbs have better light! REPEAL!
Follow the money.
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